Third One Dayer NZ vs SA

[speartackle]

I am disappointed about this mornings game NZ vs SA - I think Bond is a great bowler but in this game he had no luck whatsoever. Mills, Adams and Vettori had got things right throughout the game and Bond was going for 6 runs an over after 9 overs with one to go. So why, why, why, does Fleming put Bond on for the last over?. This act was just signing the teams death warrant!!!! Fleming has been captain for 10 years and really should have known better. A "death" bowler (Mills, Adams, perhaps try Astle)would have been the way to go here rather than Bondy, and we could have saved the series. Sorry, bad decision Mr Fleming - this bad decision cost us the series. Does anyone wish to add anything to this?

[Wanderer]

Yep. I thought NZ had the game wrapped up when SA needed about 13 an over the last 4...

For the first time in a long time I was thoroughly dissapointed with the way Fleming read this game. He knew what Pollock and Kemp did to them in the first 2 games, but it seemed as if he didn't much care. He brought the wrong bowlers on at the wrong time....

But...I think his bowlers let him down more than anything else. Remember the 5-1 drubbing the Kiwi's gave the Safricans last year? Well, I reckon it's the wickets. The ones over there were slow. South Africa is still struggling to find a decent spin bowler, and because of that, the pitches here are mainly prepared for the quicker bowlers. The safrican batsmen like the ball to come on to the bat. Otherwise they sweep, push and prod....Until they settle in.

I think Fleming missed a trick that quiet little period when Gibbs and Rudolph were struggling. Gibbs is still not back to form, and Rudolph completely out of it. Fleming should have attacked then. A quick wicket there would have put the SA batsmen coming in under a lot of pressure.

Anyway, Bond is a bit dissapointing. I reckon I expected him to come and rip apart the South African batting line up.

And Speartackle...I think some of your top order should leave the fishing outside their off-stump for when they return home later for their holidays....

[speartackle]

Good call Wanderer totally agree with your comments. yes I thought Bondy might have been a bit more accurate after what happened in Zimbabwe. And Fleming has been in charge of the side for 10 years or so. should know better- I am going to make a big call - perhaps hand the captaincy to Vettori - let Fleming get on with batting - he is a very graceful batsman when in form.

I think Vettori has a pretty good cricketing brain - whether he can bowl/bat as well as setting a good field will be a big challenge that a few kiwi captains in the past have not done so well (Geoff Howarth, early 1980's). I think Boje is playing well at the mo - so in the spin dept SA I think are doing OK. Now as for fishing, it appears as though Nathan Astle has taken over from Stephen Fleming as "Chief Angler of the New Zealand Cricket Team". The biggest fish are caught overseas!!!!

[Wanderer]

South Africa have really not played well this series. Yes, they are 3-0 up, but one kinda get the feeling it could well have been 2-1, to New Zealand....

It's probably because they have a batting line-up that bats down to 8. And of course having home-ground advantage help the bowlers. And of course the NZ batsmen have also helped the saffie bowlers!

What's disconcerting of course, is even though the saffies have not played to their full potential, they're still 3-0 up. If the Kiwi's don't up their game, they may well go home totally white-washed...

And I really don't wanna see that. They're way too good a team...

Listen....exactly what is the nature of Oram's injury that he can't bowl? Durban is traditionally pacy with bounce, and the saffies may well go into the match on Friday without Bojè.

[speartackle]

I think Jake Orams injury is a back injury...anyone wish to back me up on this...no pun intended

[Wanderer]

True.

I just found an article in a NZ e-paper...stating that apart from the lower back problems that kept him out for most of last season, he also suffered a groin strain while batting in Bloemfontein.

Pity.

So...4th ODI coming up on Friday. South Africa without Gibbs and Boje. You think your chances are better?